Electric door release

ABSTRACT

An electric door release including individually separable strike face, strike box assembly and actuating structure wherein the actuating structure may be mounted on the strike box assembly in relatively perpendicular positions to facilitate installing the door release in both metal and wood door frames and in the inactive leaf of pairs of doors having different dimensions. The actuating structure of the electric door release is a push-type solenoid adapted to be mounted on the strike box assembly by a noncircular headed projection thereon and matching openings in the strike box assembly. The solenoid is protected by a readily releasable C-shaped clip extending over a portion of the mounting projection, which bracket also locks the actuating structure on the strike box assembly. The strike box assembly includes only two spring biased movable parts.

United States Patent [1 Powers [451 Apr. 16, 1974 1 ELECTRIC DOOR RELEASE [75] Inventor: Daniel A. Powers, Monroe, Mich.

I73] Assignec: Precision Hardware Inc., Detroit,

Mich.

[22] Filed: Feb. 7, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 223,862

[52] US. Cl. 292/341.l6, 70/462 Primary ExaminerMarvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-William F. Pate, lll Attorney, Agent, or FirmWhittmore, Hulbert &

Belknap [57] ABSTRACT An electric door release including individually separable strike face, strike box assembly and actuating structure wherein the actuating structure may he mounted on the strike box assembly in relatively perpendicular positions to facilitate installing the door release in both metal and wood door frames and in the inactive leaf of pairs of doors having different dimensions. The actuating structure of the electric doorrelease is a push-type solenoid adapted to be mounted on the strike box assembly by a noncircular headed projection thereon and matching openings in the strike box assembly. The solenoid is protected by a readily releasable C-shaped clip extending over a portion of the mounting projection, which bracket also locks the actuating structure on the strike box assembly. The strike box assembly includes only two spring biased movable parts ELECTRIC DOOR RELEASE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to electric door release structure and refers more specifically to a door release structure including separable strike face, strike box assembly and actuating means structure wherein the strike box assembly includes only two spring biased movable parts and the actuating mechanism, which is a push-type solenoid, is securable to the strike box assembly in relatively perpendicular positions and is locked in the secured position by a protecting clip. therefor.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art, as shown by applicants prior US. Pat. No. 3,122,388 and the references cited therein, includes electric door release structures wherein the strike plate trippcr mechanism and actuating solenoid are essentially one unit and are not readily disassembled whereby replacement of, for example, the solenoid, necessitated by different voltage requirements or damage to the solenoid, is not as simple as it might be. In addition, the prior art structures have been relatively complicated and therefore tend to be expensive to manufacture and are subject to malfunction which reduces their efficiency.

Further, the prior art does not teach an electric door release capable of accepting three-quarter inch throw latch bolts of the non-friction type and are generally limited to installation in particular door frames or door structures wherein the fixed dimensions of the door releases of the past have been acceptable. That is to say, with prior door release structures it has not been readily possible to change the mounting of the actuating mechanism, for example, into different relatively perpendicular positions with respect to the trippcr mechamsm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, there is provided electric door release mechanism including a separable strike face member, strike box assembly and actuating means, which actuating means may be secured to the strike box assembly in a plurality of mutually perpendicular directions to facilitate installation of the electric door release in either metal or wood door frames and doors having different dimensions. a

In addition, the strike box assembly includes only two spring biased movable parts, in accordance with the invention, which are a trip member for releasably securing a latch bolt engaged therewith and a locking bar for permitting movement of the trip member to release a latch bolt engaged therewith.

The actuating means of the electric door release of the invention is a push-type solenoid including an armature having dual diameter portions engageable with different portions of the lock bar for moving it out of engagement with the trip member with the actuating means secured to the strike box assembly in different relatively perpendicular positions. The actuating means also includes a projection having a noncircular and undercut head thereon for securing the solenoid to the strike box assembly in the different relatively perpendicular positionsin conjunction with complementary openings in the strike box assembly.

A C-shaped clip having a bifurcated end adapted to surround the projection on the actuating means and to encompass the solenoid of the actuating means locks the actuating means in position on the strike box assembly and protects the solenoid in accordance with the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the electric door release of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the door release illustrated in FIG. 1 taken in the direction of the arrow 2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the door release illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 taken in the direction of arrow 3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the door release illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 showing the actuating means secured to the strike box assembly in a position perpendicular to that illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a partial section view of the door release illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4 taken substantially on the line 55 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the strike box assembly of the door release illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5 taken in the direction of arrow 6 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a section view of the door release structure illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6 taken substantially on the line 7-7 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the locking bar of the strike box assembly of the door release illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the trip member of the strike box assembly of the door release illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the solenoid clip of the door release illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the actuating means of the door release illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, particularly showing the undercut head of the noncircular projection thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The electric door release structure 10 includes the strike face 12, the strike box assembly 14. the actuating means 16 and the solenoid clip 18. The strike face 12, the strike box assembly 14, actuating means 16 and solenoid clip 18 are independently separable so that each may be separately replaced and assembled with a minimum amount of effort and few tools.

The strike face 12, as shown, includes the dished-out portion 20 and the countersunk openings 22 for receiving mounting screws or the like. The strike face 12 further includes the opening 24 behind which the strike box assembly 14 is secured as shown.

The strike box assembly 14 may be secured to the strike face in any vertical position therealong by means of screws 26, illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus, the opening 24 may be precut to receive standard height latch bolts or may be specially cut for particular installations at any vertical position along the strike face dictated by the position of a mating latch bolt. Economy of production and inventory is thus accomplished with the strike face 12 as illustrated in the electric door release structure 10.

The strike box assembly 14, as shown best in FIG. 7, includes the box 28 which may be secured to the strike face 12 by screws 26 as mentioned above. The trip member 30, best shown in FIG. 9, and the locking bar 32, best shown in FIG. 8, are secured in the box 28 on the pivot pins 34 and 36, respectively. The trip member 30 is resiliently urged in a clockwise direction, as shown, by the spring 38 into engagement with the staked-out stop 40 on the box 28. Similarly, the locking bar 32 is resiliently urged in a clockwise direction by the spring 42. Pivot pin 34 is mounted in the side walls of the box 28 at opposite ends thereof, as is the pivot pin 36. The pivot pin 36 also extends through the staked-out guide portions 44 of the box 28 at opposite ends thereof.

Thus, the strike box assembly 14 includes only two movable members. That is, the trip member 30 and the locking bar 32.

In operation, it is necessary to pivot the locking bar 32 counterclockwise about the pivot pin 36 in opposition to the spring 42 to permit rotation of the trip mem ber 30 in a counterclockwise direction in opposition to the spring 38 by a latch bolt engaged with the surface 46 of the trip member.

The actuating means 16 includes the electric solenoid 48 secured within the yoke 50 between the cross portion 52 of the yoke 50 and the closure members 54 and 56 secured across the open end of the yoke 50. The solenoid 48 is insulated by insulators 58 and 60 at the opposite ends thereof from the yoke and closure members.

The solenoid 48 includes the armature member 62 extending centrally thereof having large diameter and small diameter portions 64 and 66 at one end thereof adapted to extend within the strike box assembly 14 with the actuating means 16 in assembly with the strike box assembly. The armature 62 further includes the cap 68 on the opposite end thereof and the spring 70 operable between the cap 68 and the yoke closure member 56 urging the armature out of the strike box assembly 14.

In operation, when the solenoid 48 is energized, the armature 62 is moved into the strike box assembly in opposition to the spring 70. With the actuating means 16 secured to the strike box assembly 14, as shown in FIG. 7, on movement of the solenoid armature 62 into the strike box assembly, the larger diameter portion 64 engages the bifurcated end 72 of the locking bar to rotate the locking bar counterclockwise as shown.

With the actuating means 16 assembled with the strike box assembly at right angles to the position shown in FIG. 7; that is, as shown in FIG. 4 whereby the armature 62 extends through the opening 74 in the box 28, the smaller diameter portion 66 of the armature 62 will engage the portion 76 of the locking bar 32 to pivot the locking bar 32 in a counterclockwise direction.

The actuating means 14 further includes the disc 78 on the connecting portion 52 of the yoke 50 which includes the projection 79 having the smaller diameter portion 80 and a larger diameter head portion 82. The larger diameter portion 82 of the projection 79 has flat sides 84 so that the head provided on the projection 79 is noncircular. Further, it will be noted that the noncircular head has an undercut portion 86 at each end thereof.

In assembling the actuating means 16 with the strike box assembly in any of the relatively perpendicular positions in which assembly is possible, the noncircular head 82 is passed through a complementary opening 88 or the opening 74 in the box 28 of the strike box assembly, and the actuating means is turned ninety degrees whereby the head 82 prevents withdrawal of the actuating means from the strike box assembly.

The undercut portion 86 of the head 82 permits withdrawal of the projection 79 from the strike box assembly sufficiently far so that the bifurcated end 89 of the solenoid clip 18 can be inserted around the smaller diameter portion of the projection 79. That is to say, the undercut portion 86 of the head 82 is of the same dimension as the thickness of the material from which the box 28 is manufactured. The solenoid clip 18 thus serves to lock the actuating means 16 in assembly with the strike box assembly.

In addition, the solenoid clip 18*extends over one side and one end of the solenoid 48, as shown for example in FIG. 3, and includes flanges 90 and 92 extend ing down over two other sides of the solenoid 48 to protect the solenoid.

In overall operation of the electric door release of the invention as described above, with the actuating means 16 assembled as shown in FIG. 7, when the solenoid 48 is energized the solenoid armature 62 engages the portion 72 of the locking bar 32 on movement of the armature 62 into the strike box assembly in opposition to the spring 70 to pivot the locking bar 32 counterclockwise. As set forth above, counterclockwise pivoting of the spring 42 will permit counterclockwise pivoting of the trip member 30 in opposition to the spring 38 on application of pressure to the surface 46 thereof by a latch bolt held thereby, whereby the latch bolt is released.

As soon as the pressure has been removed from the surface 46 of the trip member 30; that is, as when the latch bolt has moved away from the door release 10, the spring 38 urges the trip member 30 back into the position shown in FIG. 7, which permits the locking bar 32 to be moved back into the position shown in FIG. 7 by spring 42 when solenoid 48 is deenergized, again preventing movement of the trip 30 in a counterclockwise position until the solenoid 48 is again actuated.

While one embodiment of the present invention has been considered in detail, it will be understood that other embodiments and modifications thereof are contemplated. It is the intention to include within the scope of the invention all such embodiments and modifications as are defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Electric door release structure comprising a strike face, a strike box assembly secured to the strike face for releasable engagement with a latch bolt and means for selectively actuating the strike box assembly in response to an electrical signal to release a latch bolt engaged with the strike box assembly, including an elongated armature movable longitudinally in opposite directions and means for securing the actuating means to the strike box assembly in a plurality of relatively perpendicular positions with the armature extending longitudinally in relatively perpendicular directions whereby the electric door release is suitable for use in door frames and doors having a wide range of dimensions.

2. Structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the strike face, strike box assembly and actuating means are independently separable.

3. Structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the strike box assembly includes only two movable parts and resilient means urging the parts into a latch bolt retaining position.

4. Structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein the two movable parts are a trip member and a locking bar, the trip member is resiliently urged into a latch bolt retaining position and the locking bar is resiliently urged into a position whereby it prevents movement of the trip member to release the latch bolt until acted upon by the actuating means.

5. Electric door release structure comprising a strike face, a strike box assembly secured to the strike face including a locking bar for releasableengagement with a latch bolt and means for selectively actuating the strike box assembly in response to an electrical signal to release a latch bolt engaged with the locking bar including a solenoid having an armature extending into the strike box assembly engageable with the locking bar on energizing of the solenoid which is spring biased out of engagement with the locking bar and means for securing the actuating means to the strike box assembly in a plurality of relatively perpendicular positions whereby the electric door release is suitable for use in door frames and doors having a wide range of dimensions.

6. Structure as set forth in claim 5, wherein the sole noid armature has two separate diameters each engageable with a different point on the locking bar with the actuating means secured to the strike box assembly in relatively perpendicular positions to actuate the locking bar on the actuating means being energized.

7. Structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein the armature includes a larger and smaller diameter portion extending within the strike box assembly, the locking bar is generally Lshaped and has an opening through one portion thereof through which the smaller diameter portion of the armature extends with the actuating mechanism secured to the strike box assembly in one of the relatively perpendicular positions thereof.

8. Structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein the look ing bar is generally L-shaped, the armature has larger and smaller diameter portions thereon and the smaller diameter portion of the armature is engageable with one portion of the locking bar with the actuating mechanism secured to the strike box assembly in one of the relatively perpendicular positions thereof.

9. Structure as set forth in claim 5, wherein the strike face, strike box assembly and actuating means are independently separable.

10. Structure as set forth in claim 5, wherein the strike box assembly includes only two movable parts and resilient means urging the parts into a latch bolt retaining position.

11. Structure as set forth in claim 10, wherein the two movable parts are a trip member and a locking bar, the trip member is resiliently urged into a latch bolt retaining position and the locking bar is resiliently urged into a position whereby it prevents movement of the trip member to release the latch bolt until acted upon by the actuating means.

12. Electric door release structure comprising a strike face, a strike box assembly secured to the strike face for releasable engagement with a latch bolt and means for selectively actuating the strike box assembly in response to an electrical signal to release a latch bolt engaged with the strike box assembly, including means for securing the actuating means to the strike box assembly in a plurality of relatively perpendicular positions whereby the electric door release is suitable for use in door frames and doors having a wide range of di mensions comprising a non-circular opening through the strike box, a projection on the actuating means having a complementary non-circular head thereon which is undercut whereby on insertion of the projection into the strike box assembly with the projection thereon oriented so that the complementary head on the projection extends through the opening in the strike box, the projection may be passed through the opening in the strike box and on rotation of the actuating means with the head of the projection within the strike box out of the mating position of the head of the projection and the opening in the strike box disassembly of the strike box assembly is prevented.

13. Structure as set forth in claim 12, and further including a C-shaped clip extending over the actuating means and having a bifurcated end extending around the projection on the actuating means with the actuating means secured to the strike box assembly for locking the actuating means to the strike box assembly and protecting the actuating means. 

1. Electric door release structure comprising a strike face, a strike box assembly secured to the strike face for releasable engagement with a latch bolt and means for selectively actuating the strike box assembly in response to an electrical signal to release a latch bolt engaged with the strike box assembly, including an elongated armature movable longitudinally in opposite directions and means for securing the actuating means to the strike box assembly in a plurality of relatively perpendicular positions with the armature extending longitudinally in relatively perpendicular directions whereby the electric door release is suitable for use in door frames and doors having a wide range of dimensions.
 2. Structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the strike face, strike box assembly and actuating means are independently separable.
 3. Structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the strike box assembly includes only two movable parts and resilient means urging the parts into a latch bolt retaining position.
 4. Structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein the two movable parts are a trip member and a locking bar, the trip member is resiliently urged into a latch bolt retaining position and the locking bar is resiliently urged into a position whereby it prevents movement of the trip member to release the latch bolt until acted upon by the actuating means.
 5. Electric door release structure comprising a strike face, a strike box assembly secured to the strike face including a locking bar for releasable engagement with a latch bolt and means for selectively actuating the strike box assembly in response to an electrical signal to release a latch bolt engaged with the locking bar including a solenoid having an armature extending into the strike box assembly engageable with the locking bar on energizing of the solenoid which is spring biased out of engagement with the locking bar and means for securing the actuating means to the strike box assembly in a plurality of relatively perpendicular positions whereby the electric door release is suitable for use in door frames and doors having a wide range of dimensions.
 6. Structure as set forth in claim 5, wherein the solenoid armature has two separate diameters each engageable with a different point on the locking bar with the actuating means secured to the strike box assembly in relatively perpendicular positions to Actuate the locking bar on the actuating means being energized.
 7. Structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein the armature includes a larger and smaller diameter portion extending within the strike box assembly, the locking bar is generally L-shaped and has an opening through one portion thereof through which the smaller diameter portion of the armature extends with the actuating mechanism secured to the strike box assembly in one of the relatively perpendicular positions thereof.
 8. Structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein the locking bar is generally L-shaped, the armature has larger and smaller diameter portions thereon and the smaller diameter portion of the armature is engageable with one portion of the locking bar with the actuating mechanism secured to the strike box assembly in one of the relatively perpendicular positions thereof.
 9. Structure as set forth in claim 5, wherein the strike face, strike box assembly and actuating means are independently separable.
 10. Structure as set forth in claim 5, wherein the strike box assembly includes only two movable parts and resilient means urging the parts into a latch bolt retaining position.
 11. Structure as set forth in claim 10, wherein the two movable parts are a trip member and a locking bar, the trip member is resiliently urged into a latch bolt retaining position and the locking bar is resiliently urged into a position whereby it prevents movement of the trip member to release the latch bolt until acted upon by the actuating means.
 12. Electric door release structure comprising a strike face, a strike box assembly secured to the strike face for releasable engagement with a latch bolt and means for selectively actuating the strike box assembly in response to an electrical signal to release a latch bolt engaged with the strike box assembly, including means for securing the actuating means to the strike box assembly in a plurality of relatively perpendicular positions whereby the electric door release is suitable for use in door frames and doors having a wide range of dimensions comprising a non-circular opening through the strike box, a projection on the actuating means having a complementary non-circular head thereon which is undercut whereby on insertion of the projection into the strike box assembly with the projection thereon oriented so that the complementary head on the projection extends through the opening in the strike box, the projection may be passed through the opening in the strike box and on rotation of the actuating means with the head of the projection within the strike box out of the mating position of the head of the projection and the opening in the strike box disassembly of the strike box assembly is prevented.
 13. Structure as set forth in claim 12, and further including a C-shaped clip extending over the actuating means and having a bifurcated end extending around the projection on the actuating means with the actuating means secured to the strike box assembly for locking the actuating means to the strike box assembly and protecting the actuating means. 